A Message from Archbishop Anne to Algoma’s Deanery Councils
As deanery councils gather across the Diocese of Algoma this fall, Archbishop Anne Germond offers the following message of encouragement and prayer for all who serve in ministry — clergy, wardens, lay leaders, and faithful parishioners alike.
“For those of you having Deanery Council meetings today and in the coming weeks, please bring my greetings to members and assure them of my prayers for their many ministries and the work they undertake in the deanery. I know there is a lot happening in each deanery and that in the midst of many good and encouraging things, there are also stresses and concerns.
In times of uncertainty, when the weight of ministry feels heavy and resources seem few or even scarce, remember this — you are not alone. The same Spirit who hovered above Jesus at his baptism naming him ‘Beloved,’ who breathed life into the Church on Pentecost is the Spirit who sustains you now. Our calling is not dependent upon abundance but on faithfulness. I have experienced this truth in my own life and know that God is always faithful.
The challenges are real. Budgets are tight and willing hands are hard to find. But let us never forget that God has always done God’s most powerful work through small, unlikely, and even weary vessels. Think of the widow’s oil that never ran dry, the loaves and fishes that fed thousands, the mustard seed that grew into a tree.
Your ministry may feel fragile and overlooked. But it is precious in the eyes of God. God is not asking us for success; God is asking us to persevere.
So, keep showing up. Keep praying. Keep looking for joy from the wells of salvation. Keep loving, even when it feels as if you are pouring from an empty cup. Know this — you and I are part of something much bigger than what we can see with our own eyes. This is the quiet, steady unfolding of God’s kingdom that we are a part of today.
I find encouragement in Paul’s words to the Thessalonians: ‘He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Know that I am grateful to each and every one of you for the ministry you undertake, but more importantly for the generous, heartfelt way in which you do it.
Your fellow servant in the gospel,
+Anne”
As deanery councils continue to meet through October, please hold one another in prayer — for wisdom, encouragement, and joy in the shared work of the gospel across Algoma.